more than 9% injune of last year. it is a sign of the federal reserve s moves to raise interest rates to slow down inflation seems to be working. but analysts still think america central bank will raise interest rates one more time at their next meeting. it is good news for consumers but also good news for us president joe biden who counted the administration s efforts to bring prices down. he is facing re election next year and being able to control inflation without pushing the repeat into recession, it will be key in montana for years at the white house. the chief economist says he is wondering whether this is a turning point. other central banks around what asking themselves, has the us peak? we are, consumers can get the stuff they want to buy. one of the things they are concerned with is even that he had numbers is down to 3%, waved down from nine, the core inflation excluding the food and energy components are still pretty high, nowhere near the 2% target. i think w
lets start with the reasons behind this. things like bank holidays strikes, how important are they? they are important and they can have a push and pull impact on these figures. we tend to see a boost to pub and restaurant although that wasn t the case in may, on the other hand, we tend to see it has a negative impact on manufacturing and construction activity because of those extra days off which is exactly what we did see in may. there is no doubt that the bank holidays had an impact and resort services was pretty much flat in may. we saw human health was a bit stronger because there weren t any strike day byjunior doctors but there was an increase in the output for arts and entertainment. that s partly because of the bank holidays. it was a bit of a mixed report but as you say, we saw a contraction in may, a bit better than expected. but matt lets pick up on those pay deals. , . ., ., matt lets pick up on those pay deals. , . . . , deals. they have agreed a pay rise, what
that we have returned to negative growth? that we have returned to negative urowth? , that we have returned to negative . rowth? , ., . ., , that we have returned to negative urowth? , ., , , . growth? they were actually expecting 0.396 contraction growth? they were actually expecting 0.396 contraction during growth? they were actually expecting 0.396 contraction during may, - growth? they were actually expecting 0.396 contraction during may, due - growth? they were actually expecting 0.396 contraction during may, due to l 0.3% contraction during may, due to the impact of the extra bank holiday related to the coronation. pretty mixed bag. it is not great overall. if you look at the numbers over the last three months, the uk economy essentially flatlined, as you said in your preamble. the uk economy is barely larger than it was four years ago, pre covid. it s not looking great, and if you look at what the markets think in terms of longer term growth for the uk economy, the